Wildlife Conservation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (651, 652)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

651. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 310 of 22 March 2022, if his Department took the necessary measures regarding serious negative impacts of high-density urban gull colonies on schools, schoolchildren and staff (details supplied); and the reason that he and his Department seem to be content to ignore the expert advice, submissions and evidence in proposing to provide advice and licences for such measures for schools negatively impacted by high density urban gull colonies if he did receive such explicit expert advice and submissions. [40133/22]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

652. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 310 of 22 March 2022, the way that he would expect any and all costs associated with the so-called deterrent measures mentioned in his previous reply to be met by all impacted schools regarding serious negative impacts of high density urban gull colonies on schools, schoolchildren and staff; and if he will address specific queries should such measures proved to be ineffective and a waste of time, money and effort as apparently expertly advised to his Department via his Consultative Committee on urban gulls in November 2019 et seq. (details supplied). [40142/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 and 652 together.

My Department does not provide funding for school buildings, that would fall under the remit of my colleague Minister for Education Norma Foley.

As outlined in Parliamentary Question No. 310 of 22 March 2022 there is a facility under Section 35 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 which allows licence applications to be made to apply to use a decoy, or an instrument or appliance, including electrical or other recording apparatus emitting or imitating birdcalls (including distress calls), intended for the purpose of repelling, scaring or capturing a protected wild bird. The expert advice received stated that these would need to be constantly monitored in order to be effective.

My Department has not received any applications this year for Section 35 licences for deterrent measures in relation to gulls on schools.

Question No. 652 answered with Question No. 651.